Galaxy S, Samsung's Answer to Apple iPhone, Debuts in Asia

The Samsung Galaxy S smartphone made its debut in Asia and will soon begin launching with exclusive network deals around the world. Said to be Samsung's answer to the Apple iPhone, the Galaxy S pairs Android 2.1 with a 4-inch display and location- and networking-based apps. Separately, Samsung also has confirmed that it plans to release a tablet in the second half of 2010.

Samsung Electronics is hoping consumers will think global and act local. On
June 6, the South Korean electronics maker kicked
off the Asia release of its Galaxy S, an
Android-running smartphone that it's touting as more personalized to South
Koreans than the Apple iPhone.

Running Android 2.1, the smartphone features a 4-inch super AMOLED screen, 1GHz
processor and advanced location-based services-thus, enabling it to be more
personalized and area-centric. A Social Hub feature offers a quick route to
social-networking details, and also on board is Samsung's mDNIe (mobile digital
natural image engine), a technology also in the company's LCD and LED
televisions and said to boost "an even sharper, crisper viewing experience for
photos, videos and ebooks."

Additional features include a 5-megapixel camera, HD video playback and
recording, support for multiple audio file formats, Bluetooth 3.0 and WiFi
802.11b/g/n connectivity, an accelerometer and digital compass, and a memory
slot for up to 32GB. Google apps are integrated; e-mail, SMS and MMS, and
calendaring are supported; and the phone can view and edit documents in
Microsoft Office 2007.

In a statement out of CTIA, Samsung President JK Shin described the Galaxy S as
"the perfect device for people in all corners of the world who want that extra
edge; to be more effective, productive, better connected, and in tune with
their smart life-both personal and professional-all in a very easy and simple
way."

At a keynote speech at the show, Shin described his vision "to advance the
democratization of the smartphone" and "to make smartphones available for
everyone, regardless of cost, need, lifestyle or geographic location."

Of the Galaxy S' Smart Life feature Shin added, "Smart Life is delivering a
smartphone experience that is simple, organized and integrated. And Smart Life
is flexible and versatile, allowing smartphone users to customize their user
experience to fit their own needs."

Stepping into another set of Apple footprints, Samsung also confirmed June 7
that it plans to release a tablet device in the second half of the year.
According to Information Week, the
affirmation occurred after Samsung employees in South
Africa posted to Twitter images on the
tablet, which have since been removed. Reportedly, Samsung has "not yet
confirmed the markets for launch or detailed product specifications" for the
tablet.

Michelle Maisto has been covering the enterprise mobility space for a decade, beginning with Knowledge Management, Field Force Automation and eCRM, and most recently as the editor-in-chief of Mobile Enterprise magazine. She earned an MFA in nonfiction writing from Columbia University, and in her spare time obsesses about food. Her first book, The Gastronomy of Marriage, if forthcoming from Random House in September 2009.